ENBRIDGE GAS, CALEDON FIRE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES TEAM UP

Enbridge Gas Inc., the Fire Marshal's Public Fire Safety Council (FMPFSC) and Caledon Fire and Emergency Services have joined hands to improve home safety and bring fire and carbon monoxide-related deaths down to zero, a Town of Caledon media release said.

Caledon Fire and Emergency Services have received 324 combination smoke and carbon monoxide alarms through Safe Community Project Zero, a public education campaign that will provide more than 8,000 alarms to residents in 50 municipalities across Ontario, the release said.

"The objective of Safe Community Project Zero is to deliver combination smoke and carbon monoxide alarms to residents in Ontario communities who need them the most," said Jon Pegg, Ontario Fire marshal and chair of the FMPFSC, according to the release. "It's a program that fire departments can adopt to help educate their communities about the requirement for all Ontario homes to have a CO alarm if they have a fuel-burning appliance or an attached garage."

Enbridge Gas has invested $250,000 in Safe Community Project Zero this year. Moreover, the program has provided more than 76,000 alarms to Ontario fire departments over the past 14 years, a release reads.

"Carbon monoxide is known as the 'silent killer' for a reason, and evidence shows that prevention saves lives," said Ryan Werenich, GTA West Region manager of operations, Enbridge Gas. "We know that the best way to avoid carbon monoxide exposure is to eliminate it at the source by properly maintaining fuel-burning equipment and that the alarms are a critical second line of defence to protect against carbon monoxide poisoning."

Carbon monoxide is a toxic, odourless gas that is a byproduct of the incomplete combustion of many types of common fuels.

"When properly installed and maintained, combination smoke and carbon monoxide alarms can offer the early warning to safely evacuate from a house fire or carbon monoxide exposure," said Samantha

Hoffmann, deputy chief of community safety. "Caledon Fire and Emergency Services is proud to

partner again this year with Enbridge Gas and the FMPFSC on Project Zero. The donation of these

alarms allows us to continue protecting our most vulnerable community members."